Influencer Nick Shirley posted a viral 42‑minute video alleging that about $110 million in taxpayer funds was paid to Minnesota child-care centers that he found closed during weekday visits. He singled out a Minneapolis facility licensed for roughly 99 children that he says received $1.9 million in 2025. The clip was reshared by Elon Musk and prompted public questions from Rep. Tom Emmer; the claims have not been independently verified.
Influencer Alleges $110M Minnesota Child-Care Fraud, Calls on Gov. Tim Walz to Answer
Influencer Nick Shirley has published a viral 42‑minute video alleging a large-scale child-care fraud scheme in Minnesota that he says involves roughly $110 million in taxpayer dollars. In the clip, Shirley and his team visit several licensed child-care facilities on a weekday and report finding multiple locations empty or nonoperational.
What Shirley Claims
Shirley points to a Minneapolis facility identified as "Quality Learning Center," noting the sign reportedly misspells "learning," and says the site appeared vacant despite a license for about 99 children. He alleges the center received approximately $1.9 million from the state Child Care Assistance Program in 2025, plus additional payments in prior years.
“There’s no one here,” Shirley says on camera. “This is a prime example of the billions of dollars in fraud happening right now in Minnesota.”
Public Reaction
The video has been widely circulated on social media. High-profile amplification included a reshared post by Elon Musk with the caption “Prosecute @GovTimWalz.” Republican Rep. Tom Emmer (R‑MN), the House majority whip, publicly demanded answers and highlighted taxpayer concerns on social media.
Shirley has continued to press Governor Tim Walz online, calling him an "American Pirate" and warning that Walz will face accountability. The influencer wrote that his team "uncovered over $110,000,000 in fraud" in one day and described the footage as "just the tip of the iceberg."
Context and Verification
These claims are presented as allegations made by Shirley; they have not been independently verified in this article. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is a state-funded program that provides subsidies to help low- and moderate-income families pay for child care. State officials or the governor’s office have not confirmed the total Shirley cites in the video in any public statement attached to the footage.
This report summarizes the allegations and the public response; readers should treat the figures as claimed by the influencer until verified by official state records or an independent investigation.
